First Sunday in Advent December 2nd, 2007 The Christmas Fund offers hope to active and retired clergy and active and retired lay employees because they can receive emergency assistance in time of need

The gospel of Matthew tells us – Look a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” Reader 1: The gospel of Matthew tells us- Look a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, “God is with us.”

God is with us. This is the Candle of Hope. We light hope because God is with us in so many ways – in creation and history, in each elder and every tiny child. We come to church and are reminded that our human hopes are met by God’s promise. Reader 2: God is with us. This is the Candle of Hope. We light hope because God is with us in so many ways – in creation and history, in each elder and every tiny child. We come to church and are reminded that our human hopes are met by God’s promise.

The Candle of Hope The Christmas Fund offers hope to active and retired clergy and active and retired lay employees because they can receive emergency assistance in time of need Lighter: (Light the first candle)

The promise of God-with-us is the same in the first century and the twenty-first century. People share that promise with us – some are pastors, teachers, and musicians, some are parents, grandparents, neighbors and friends. Pause this morning to reflect on those who respond to your hopes with a faithful promise. (silence. In some churches people may feel free to softly name the people in their lives who have given them hope or responded to their expectations.) Reader 1: The promise of God-with-us is the same in the first century and the twenty-first century. People share that promise with us – some are pastors, teachers, and musicians, some are parents, grandparents, neighbors and friends. Pause this morning to reflect on those who respond to your hopes with a faithful promise. (silence. In some churches people may feel free to softly name the people in their lives who have given them hope or responded to their expectations.)

(Let us pray) Emmanuel, God with us, we give you thanks that our small wicks of hope can be lit by your promise, that there are people all around us to strike the flame, and that we can shine for others. Amen. Reader 2: Let us pray Emmanuel, God with us, we give you thanks that our small wicks of hope can be lit by your promise, that there are people all around us to strike the flame, and that we can shine for others. Amen.